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| THROUGH THE DERMATOSCOPE |
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| Year : 2017 | Volume
: 8
| Issue : 5 | Page : 384-385 |
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Yellow light in dermatoscopy and its utility in dermatological disorders
Balakrishnan Nirmal
Department of Dermatology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| Date of Web Publication | 15-Sep-2017 |
Correspondence Address:
Balakrishnan Nirmal
OPD No. 220, Room No. 5, Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_351_16
How to cite this article:
Nirmal B. Yellow light in dermatoscopy and its utility in dermatological disorders. Indian Dermatol Online J 2017;8:384-5 |
How to cite this URL:
Nirmal B. Yellow light in dermatoscopy and its utility in dermatological disorders. Indian Dermatol Online J [serial online] 2017 [cited 2021 Dec 3];8:384-5. Available from: https://www.idoj.in/text.asp?2017/8/5/384/214719 |
Dermatoscopy has become increasingly significant in assisting the diagnosis of common dermatological disorders.[1] However, the main deterrent to the utility of dermatoscopy in dark skin is the presence of higher melanin content in the basal layer preventing deeper pigmentation and vessels from visualization through dermatoscopy.
Melanin absorption is highest in ultraviolet light spectrum and decreasing towards infrared spectrum. Hemoglobin has absorption peaks at UVA, blue (400 nm), green (541 nm), and yellow (577 nm) wavelengths.[2] Green light was found to offer better contrast than white light in nail fold capillaroscopy.[3] Colors with lower wavelength, such as violet, blue, and green, are absorbed by superficial layers and do not penetrate deeper. Hence, the utility of green light is limited to nail fold capillaroscopy and oral mucosal dermatoscopy.[4] Yellow, orange, and red with higher wavelengths penetrate deeper into the dermis because penetration of light into tissues increases with increase in wavelength.[5] To visualize dermal pigment and vasculature, wavelength of light should correspond to that of the absorption peaks of melanin and hemoglobin. Yellow color corresponds to an absorption peak of hemoglobin and is the closest to melanin absorption peak among the higher wavelength colors. Hence, it is ideally suited to visualize nailfold capillaries [Figure 1], conditions with alterations in dermal vasculature [Figure 2], and in conditions producing dermal pigmentation [Figure 3], where these structures stand out black against the yellow background offering better contrast. | Figure 1: Dermatoscopy (10×) of the nail fold showing dermatomyositis-systemic sclerosis capillaroscopy pattern with (a) white light and (b) yellow light (580 nm). Images captured using Dermlite DLII multispectral (3Gen Inc, USA) with Sony DSC W-800 camera (20.1 MP, Sony corp., Tokyo, Japan)
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 | Figure 2: Dermatoscopy (10×) of rosacea showing vascular polygons with (a) white light and (b) yellow light (580 nm). Images captured using Dermlite DLII multispectral (3Gen Inc, USA) with Sony DSC W-800 camera (20.1 MP, Sony corp., Tokyo, Japan)
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 | Figure 3: Dermatoscopy (10×) of pigmented contact dermatitis showing gray dots and granules corresponding to dermal melanin with (a) white light and (b) yellow light (580 nm). Images captured using Dermlite DLII multispectral (3Gen Inc, USA) with Nikon 1 AW1 (14.1 MP mirrorless camera, Nikon Corp., Tokyo, Japan). Basal layer pigmentation seen as brown pseudoreticular pattern in white light is not seen in yellow light while deeper melanin due to pigment incontinence is highlighted in yellow light
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Addition of colors in dermatoscopy offers plenty of research on the technology and its utility in dermatologic disorders in future.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
 References | |  |
| 1. | Errichetti E, Stinco G. Dermoscopy in General Dermatology: A Practical Overview. Dermatol Ther 2016;6:471-507.  |
| 2. | Barlow RJ. Lasers and Flashlamps in the Treatment of Skin Disorders. In: Burns T, Breathnach S, Cox N, Griffiths C, editors. Rook's Textbook of Dermatology. 8 th ed.. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell; 2010. p. 73.2-5. |
| 3. | Weekenstroo HH, Cornelissen BM, Bernelot Moens HJ. Green light may improve diagnostic accuracy of nailfold capillaroscopy with a simple digital videomicroscope. Rheumatol Int 2015;35:1069-71. |
| 4. | Drogoszewska B, Chomik P, Polcyn A, Michcik A. Clinical diagnosis of oral erosive lichen planus by direct oral microscopy. Postepy Dermatol Alergol 2014;31:222-8. |
| 5. | Barolet D. Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) in Dermatology. Semin Cutan Med Surg 2008;27:227-38. |
[Figure 1], [Figure 2], [Figure 3]
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